Program Contact
Kim McCarson - Kimberly.McCarson@austintexas.gov (Send Email)

Reporting Contact
Kim McCarson - Kimberly.McCarson@austintexas.gov (Send Email)

In order to be eligible for financial assistance, an applicant or sponsoring agency must submit an application demonstrating it meets the following criteria:
A. If the applicant is a nonprofit, the applicant must be designated as a 501(c)(3) per the Internal Revenue Code or State of Texas arts nonprofit organization in good standing and submit an IRS nonprofit designation letter.
B. If the applicant is a for-profit business, the applicant must meet EDD’s definition of either a “Live Music Venue”, “Performance Venue / Theater”, or “Museum / Art Gallery” according to the definitions provided in the CSAP Guidelines 2019, which can be found uploaded in the Library of this application.
C. The applicant can demonstrate an urgent need for assistance due to having been adversely impacted since June 1, 2016, as follows:
i. It has been displaced and/or relocated, or
ii. It faces the imminent threat of displacement and/or relocation, or
iii. It has renewed a lease at substantially higher rates, or
iv. It faces a pending lease renewal at substantially higher rates (“substantially higher rate” is defined as at least 25% higher than current lease amount)
D. The applicant can provide evidence of site control, which includes one of the following:
i. An existing, fully-executed lease or lease offer at a significantly higher rate than the previous or current rate.
ii. An existing fully executed lease or lease/purchase offer for a facility in need of City Code-related improvements, or
iii. An existing, fully executed lease or lease/purchase offer for a facility in need of revenue-generating improvements.
E. The leased property is located in the City of Austin corporate city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction.
F. The applicant must show the appropriate zoning assigned to the leased property or property to be acquired. The applicant must submit a Zoning Verification Form for all of the above request categories. The form is available in the Eligibility section of this application.
Eligible Request Categories include:
i. Rent Stipend: Organizations displaced, faced with imminent space displacement or the threat of such displacement since June 1, 2016, may apply for up to twelve (12) months of a rent stipend to pay the difference between the prior rent and the current rent. The organization must provide a three-year financial plan indicating how the stipend will enable them to pay these facility costs into the future. The financial plan should demonstrate or provide a plan for achieving operating feasibility or stability over the three-year period.

ii. Gap Financing for Property Acquisition: If an applicant is requesting funds in the form of down payment assistance or gap financing, the applicant must demonstrate a high degree of project readiness, including a summary business plan as it pertains to this request, detailed deal structure (including proof of financing that will make up the remaining amount of funds needed for the purchase), acquisition process/timeline, detailed cost estimates for the acquisition or renovation (if applicable), and property/facility specifications.
iii. Other Space-Related Needs, such as facility improvements or displacement-related expenditures:
a. If an applicant is requesting funds to make physical and/or acoustical improvements, the applicant must submit a summary of its proposed business plan as it pertains to this request, detailed site development/construction budget, including secured funding source(s), an identified project team/contractors, timeline, and a proposed operating/maintenance budget for the facility. No match is required but applicants must show documented availability of any cash, convertible assets, or in-kind support needed to complete the project.

b. A grant of up to $5,000 may be awarded for the creation of a Predevelopment Plan by a licensed architect or engineer.
c. If an applicant is requesting financial relief to offset or defray displacement-related expenditures such as, production-specific facility rental, equipment rental/acquisition, transportation or moving costs, the applicant must submit their cost estimate or receipts for these specific expenditures. Receipts/proof of payments cannot be dated prior to June 1, 2016.
G. The applicant can demonstrate a high degree of project readiness, including identified funding source, a preliminary budget, an identified project team and a proposed operating budget for the facility.
H. The applicant can demonstrate how the proposed project will contribute to improved financial and programmatic performance. The organization should address the urgency/need for the proposed relocation, lease renewal, or expansion.
I. The applicant can demonstrate financial accountability by submitting the organization’s federal Form 990 or tax returns for the most recent three years (if unavailable, balance sheet and income statement), budget for the current year, and year-to-date income statement and balance sheet.
J. The applicant can demonstrate that it has an established track record (defined as at least the past three (3) years) of working with, presenting to and/or offering programs to members of historically underserved community(ies) in the City of Austin.
K. Evidence of the artistic/programmatic excellence and/or quality of its services.
L. If the applicant intends to offer co-location opportunities to other artists or arts organizations, the applicant can demonstrate the extent to which sub-leasing improves the financial performance of the applicant, increases access to long-term affordable space for other artists or arts organizations providing community benefits, or improves programmatic efficiencies/collaboration.

1) Priority will be given to organizations confronting immediate and critical needs, and bonus points will be given to those who did not receive 2018 ASAP funding.
2) Any grant funding awarded will be disbursed through a performance-based agreement between the City and the grant recipient.
3) The City of Austin reserves the right to grant requests in part or in whole. Grant funds may not duplicate contracted work for which City of Austin funding is already being received. Grant condition(s) must be met and the grant must be closed and expended by agreed terms prior to approval of a subsequent grant for additional funds. Grantees may apply for an extension if conditions cannot be met within the agreed term.
4) Grant funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis (upon proof of receipts/paid invoices). Grantees receiving rental subsidies should request disbursement on a monthly basis. Grantees receiving funds for other purposes may request reimbursements based on a schedule submitted as part of the contract and agreed upon by the City of Austin.
5) Other grant terms and conditions will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Grant Review Committee or City staff.
6) In the event of non-compliance, penalties may include:
a. Termination of the grant
b. Repayment of previously received funds to the City
c. Possible debarment from City of Austin Cultural Arts funding programs